Carbon dioxide emissions in Spain 1970-2022

Spain produced nearly 261 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂) emissions in 2022. This was an increase of over seven percent compared to the previous year. In 2020, Spain's CO₂ emissions dropped significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions imposed. This dramatic reduction in emissions was the largest ever recorded in Spain. The second biggest over the past 50 years occurred in 2009 during the global financial crisis.

Emissions in Spain

Emissions in Spain experienced a period of significant growth between 1970 and 2007, peaking at 380.5 MtCO₂. Since then, they have mostly been on a downward trajectory. Despite these reductions, Spain is the EU member with the smallest decline in GHG emissions when compared to 1990 levels. Transportation is a main source of pollution in Spain, with transportation-related GHG emissions increasing by approximately 35 percent between 1990 and 2020.

Air pollution in Spain

Greenhouse gases were not the only emissions impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. Due to the considerable reductions in road traffic, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution fell across the country. Average NO₂ concentrations in Madrid dropped to 11.7 micrograms per cubic meter of air in April 2020, compared to 26.4 micrograms per cubic meter of air in April 2019. Nonetheless, as of December 2022, average NO₂ concentrations had risen again, reaching 33.9 micrograms per cubic meter of air.